Last week, Panthers owner David Tepper told the media that Cam Newton’s health is still in question.
Whether he’s healthy or not, the team is in a tough spot with their former MVP. Carolina is currently entering a rebuilding period and it’d be much easier to do so without a veteran QB’s contract on the books. Then again, starters of Newton’s caliber are rare and if they move on they might be looking for his replacement for a long time.
Let’s examine four different options for the Panthers this offseason.
1. Let him play out the 2020 season
Newton is entering the final season of his five-year, $103.8 million extension he signed back in June of 2015. It’s rare for a player who’s carried a team to a Super Bowl and won a league MVP to actually enter the last year of their contract. Newton is in a unique spot due to his shoulder and foot injuries and being on the wrong side of 30 years old. The team’s safest move might be to hold off making one for another season. If Newton is willing to play out the last year of his current deal, they can re-evaluate based on how he performs in 2020.
2. Offer Newton a contract extension
Of course, if Newton has a vintage comeback season, he’s going to cost a whole lot more if they want to keep him around afterwards. To avoid that scenario, Carolina could offer Newton an extension right now. Doing so would create more cap space for the 2020 season (roughly $14.5 million according to Over the Cap) and they need all the breathing room they can get. The potential downside here is if Newton doesn’t get his groove back then his new contract will likely become one of the most burdensome at his position.
3. See what you can get in a trade
General manager Marty Hurney and head coach Matt Rhule may decide Newton is unlikely to ever get back to his early 2018 form. If that’s the case or they’d rather rebuild around a younger quarterback, then it makes sense trying to offload him to another team. A healthy Newton would definitely net a solid return in draft capital. Right now though they might not get more than a third-round pick in exchange – a bitter pill to swallow.
4. Cut him for cap savings
The fourth option is also the least likely scenario. Cutting Newton before June 1 would save the team a boatload of salary cap room: $19.1 million. Doing so would also come with only a $2 million dead money penalty. With that extra cash, the Panthers might look to fill their other roster holes at cornerback, defensive tackle, edge, left guard, tight end, linebacker, etc. etc. Portions of those savings might also be used to bring in a veteran/bridge QB while a rookie develops.
